Pudzianowski vs. Tim Sylvia

[DixieDestroyer]

It appears WSM Champ Mariusz Pudzianowski will face former UFC Champ Tim Sylvia on May 21. Mariusz has the power & weight advantage, but will face a 6'8 Sylvia with a solid jab & strikes, huge reach advantage, & decent BJJ. Despite Sylvia's (sub) loss to "MMA King" Fedor & his (foolish) KO to Ray Mercer, Sylvia has the experience & technique advantage over Pudzian. Remember, Sylvia almost caught (former ADCC HW champ) Jeff Monson in a triangle choke once. It'll be an interesting fight to watch!

...From Sherdog...

At a point I can't even identify, Tim Sylvia became a punchline. This was not always the case. From the beginning, he was awkwardly built -- to the point where he was once popped for banned substances just to streamline his frame -- but had earned the right to be taken seriously. He was a 6'8"Â￾ heavyweight who used his reach and boxing to make life hell for opponents. He ran a five-fight win streak in the UFC. He knocked out Andrei Arlovski and Ricco Rodriguez when it counted. He busted up Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. There was something there. Then came the big-money offer to fight Fedor Emelianenko. (He lost.) Then came the viral video loss to Ray Mercer, a 48-year-old boxer who was once submitted by Kimbo Slice. Then came the attempts to book garbage fights against Wes Sims to powder and diaper his ego. A guy makes those moves, and the jokes start writing themselves. Unfortunately, Sylvia's latest bid is another monkeys-on-unicycles brainstorm: he's slated to fight "world's strongest man"Â￾ Mariusz Pudzianowski May 21. It will be Massachusetts' first sanctioned mixed martial arts card. If first impressions count, the state had better hope for a power outage. Sylvia doesn't need these fights. What he needs are competitive bouts that can help restore some of the intimidation factor. There is still a place in the heavyweight division for a decent boxer with arms like telephone poles who is hell to take down. He should book a Mercer rematch to correct that glitch, and then pursue fights in Strikeforce or Dream that could put him in some kind of position for a comeback. If he loses to Pudzianowski, a fire hydrant of a man with one "pro"Â￾ fight to his name, there isn't going to be anything left of his career to salvage.

http://sherdogblog.craveonline.com/blog/2010-04-05#23654

Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[Rebajlo]

Pudzianowski is also slated to fight Japan's Yusuke Kawaguchi in Katowice, Poland on 7 May.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Rebajlo, that many fights so close reminds me of Jeremy "Gumby" Horn's (84-19-5) old fight schedule. Horn used to use actual MMA fights as his "training/sparring"!

Here's the full (current) card for "Moosin: God of Martial Arts" on 5/21 in Worcester, Massachusetts...

* Super Heavyweight bout: Tim Sylvia vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski
* Heavyweight bout: Mu Bae Choi vs. Travis Wiuff
* Middleweight bout: Travis Lutter vs. Rafael Natal
* Lightweight bout: Yves Edwards vs. Mike Campbell
* Light Heavyweight bout: Jae Young Kim vs. Lukasz Jurkowski
* Welterweight bout: Matt Lee vs. Brett Oteri
* Welterweight bout: Raugh Johnson vs. Forrest Petz
* Heavyweight bout: Pat Bennett vs. Stipe Miocic
* Super Heavyweight bout: Eric "Butterbean" Esch vs. Lyndon Byers
* Women's 130 catchweight bout*** : Tara LaRosa vs. Roxanne Modafferi

*** = Moosin is awaiting clearance from Strikeforce to use Modaferri.

Moosin : God of Martial Arts

- I'll be pulling for Wiuff, Lutter, Campbell (former pwrlfter, vs "afflete" Edwards), Jurkowski, & Petz.
Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[whiteathlete33]

I'm gonna be pulling for Big Mariusz in this and every fight in his future. This will be a decent payday for him and also a good test in Sylvia.

 

[whiteathlete33]

Mariusz Pudzianowski fought today. I missed the fight. My neighbor told me it was close. He beat Yusuke Kawaguchi in a 2 round fight. It was a MD win.

 

[jcolec02]

maybe we can watch it on youtube

 

[whiteathlete33]

It will probably be on Youtube by tomorrow.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Thine asketh & thy shalt receive.

Pudzianowski vs. Kawguchia

Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[whiteathlete33]

Thine asketh & thy shalt receive.

Pudzianowski vs. Kawguchia

Thanks! I was looking for it on Youtube but wasn't able to find it.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

From Sherdog...

Must-See Fights of the Week : Sylvia vs. Pudzianowski

by Tomas Rios (trios@sherdog.com)

T. Marciniak/Sherdog.com


A week without a UFC or Strikeforce event has becoming a rarity, but when it does happen, fans the world over often find the nearest dark corner, assume the fetal position and start doing the junkie's Harlem shake until they get a proper fix. Not only does it lead to more work than Dr. Drew can handle, but it seems completely unnecessary.

The MMA landscape this week may be free of any UFC or major Strikeforce show, but there are fights out there that every fan needs to see. Mariusz Pudzianowski's ongoing quest to prove that the Atlas stones are as good a preparation as any for MMA seems reason enough to keep your withdrawal symptoms in check.

The more demanding fight fan has cash-money wrestling converts like Joe Soto, Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren in fights that anyone with a cable subscription will get to see. Squash your plans to overtake the UFC's front office and force its roster to fight 24/7. Instead, get squared up on the violence to come with a proper breakdown of the fights every MMA follower must see.

Tim Sylvia vs. Mariusz Pudzianowski

Moosin MMA "Sylvia vs. Pudzianowski,"Â￾ May 21, Worcester, Mass.

Pudzianowski is an altogether unique figure in MMA -- a genetic anomaly that dominated the Strongman circuit and became a national hero in his native Poland, as well as a full-fledged Internet meme thanks to a 1980s-inspired pop music career. The enormous cache to his name makes the handling of his MMA career thus far all the more puzzling, as he will fight Sylvia, the former UFC heavyweight champion, in his third professional bout.

Pudzianowski's second fight, against Deep stalwart Yusuke Kawaguchi on May 7, revealed the myriad of difficulties he faces in his transition from tossing tires to the most challenging combat sport known to man, save for maybe XARM. Strongman competitions place a heavy premium on sustaining peak muscle performance for brief periods, and Pudzianowski showed as much in his latest outing, as he effortlessly flung Kawaguchi to and fro for the first two minutes of their fight. Not surprisingly, his offensive output lessened with every passing second; the human body simply cannot fuel nearly 300 pounds of muscle for more than a minute or two at a time.

Having little in the way of legitimate training does Pudzianowski no favors in this area, as he throws nothing but arm punches and lunging leg kicks, which serve only to further tax his easily exhausted gas tank. Therein lies Sylvia's biggest edge -- namely a decade of legitimate MMA training and an unteachable height and reach advantage. They are valuable assets to have since Pudzianowski fancies himself a swarming stand-up fighter. However, his bulging musculature makes it difficult for him to even throw punches correctly or with any real power.

This problem reared its ugly head in Pudzianowski's bout with Kawaguchi, a puffed-up light heavyweight who managed to outstrike him throughout the second round of their bout with nothing more than leg kicks and basic footwork. Sylvia has much more than that to offer, as his down-the-pipe punching style seems perfectly suited to expose the glaring defensive deficiencies in Pudzianowski's stance. Being too muscular sounds like a bizarre problem, but Pudzianowski's chest is so bulky that he cannot close his defensive posture, and his bulbous neck makes it impossible for him to tuck his chin.

Coming at Sylvia with your arms spread and chin out looks like little more than a disaster in the making, and Pudzianowski has no choice but to do so. Slapping a body lock on Sylvia and heaving him to the mat may be his only real offensive option, but Kawaguchi easily stifled Pudzianowski's ground-and-pound with a basic closed guard. Given the strain of trying to bench press a 6-foot-8, 260-pound slab of humanity and Pudzianowski's oxygen-hogging muscles, it will only be a matter of minutes before the baddest Pole since Lech Walesa discovers the very real consequences of entering the cage with a true professional.

The halcyon days for Sylvia came and went a long time ago, but there is no way a complete neophyte to high-level combat sports can beat him. What exactly Pudzianowski's handlers are thinking by allowing him to fight someone with Sylvia's experience and talent remains anyone's guess, but an American dollar does convert to 3.25 Polish zlotys. No matter the payday, Sylvia will walk away the real winner by putting down the latest would-be Kraken of the heavyweight class.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/1/Must-See-Fights-of-the-Week-24585
Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[whiteathlete33]

I almost forgot that this fight is today. Hopefully Mariusz has a better showing than he did against that Japanese fighter.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Sylvia defeated Pudzianowski via Submission (Strikes) at 1:43 of round 2. Too much fighting experience, striking & size for Pudzian just yet.

Here's the full card for Moosin : god of Martial Arts

* Super Heavyweight bout: United States Tim Sylvia vs. Poland Mariusz Pudzianowski

Sylvia defeated Pudzianowski via Submission (Strikes) at 1:43 of round 2

* Heavyweight bout: United States Josh Barnes vs. United States Travis Wiuff

Wiuff defeated Barnes via KO (Punches) at 0:34 of round 1

* Middleweight bout: United States Travis Lutter (White) vs. Brazil Rafael Natal (mestizo)

Natal defeated Lutter via TKO (Punches) at 4:12 of round 1

* Lightweight bout: The Bahamas Yves Edwards ("afflete") vs. United States Mike Campbell (White)

Campbell defeated Edwards via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29â€"28, 29â€"28)

* Women's (130 lbs) bout: United States Tara LaRosa vs. United States Roxanne Modafferi

Modafferi defeated LaRosa via Split Decision (30â€"27, 28â€"29, 29â€"28).

* Light Heavyweight bout: South Korea Kim Ho Jin (asian) vs. Poland Lukasz Jurkowski (White)

Jurkowski defeated Kim Ho Jin via TKO (Punches) at 2:22 of round 1

* Welterweight bout: United States Ralph Johnson vs. United States Forrest Petz

Petz defeated Johnson via Unanimous Decision (30â€"27, 29â€"28, 29â€"28).

* Welterweight bout: United States Matt Lee vs. United States Brett Oteri

Lee defeated Oteri via KO (Punches) at 1:46 of round 2.

* Heavyweight bout: United States Paul Barry vs. Slovakia Stipe Miocic

Miocic defeated Barry via TKO (Punches) at 1:32 of round 2.

* Heavyweight bout: France Frederic Belleton (White) vs. United States Anthony Lapsley ("afflete")

Lapsley defeated Belleton via Submission (Kneebar) at 0:59 of round 1.

Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[whiteathlete33]

It sucks Mariusz lost.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

FYI fellers, here's the "Maniac" vs. Pudzian scrap...

http://www.mma-core.com/videos/_Mariusz_Pudzianowski_vs_Tim_Sylvia_Moosin?vid=10010938&tid=100

Mariusz didn't have the wrestling skill to get past Tim's takedown defense (beyond that initial throw...using his raw power), & Sylvia's reach & stiff jabs added up. Tim also looked to be holding 300+ (not sure what he weighed in at), so that caused issues for Pudz on the mat. Pudz has as much/more functional strength than anyone on the planet, but in an MMA fight (vs. a "B+" level fighter like Sylvia), you cannot rely on just power & athleticism. If Pudz really wants to make a go at top tier MMA, he needs to drop some size to up his cardio & increase flexibility. That massive chest makes it hard to bring his arms in (for proper stance & parrying body shots) & that thick neck makes it hard to tuck the chin. He needs to hold about 255-270 (max). His cardio is needing improvement too. 3 x 5 minutes rounds demand much more sustained cardio than does 1 minute bursts in WSM events. I'd like to see Pudz "sell out" for MMA. He has the size, power & athletic ability to really excel...IF he commits more to cardio & (MTKB, wrestling & BJJ) technique.

Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[white is right]

Pudz needs to drop about 40 lbs of muscle if he is to have any stamina for this sport. Is he still doing strong man competitions? Also Tim Sylvia has either retired or should retire. 305 pounds reminds of Riddick Bowe or Tim Witherspoon late in their careers. I guess if he wants to keep on fighting novice fighters he can get away with that weight otherwise it's another quick ko loss to any striker type.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

WiR, Sylvia was holding 311 when he got KO'd Ray Mercer. In comparison, Tim was about 255 when he fought Brandon Vera @ UFC 77 (2007). I agree Tim needs to hold no more than 265 if he wants (a chance) at signing with Strikeforce or UFC (again). I doubt Dana would ever re-sign him to the UFC. I think Tim's interested in "freak show" fights to keep the $ coming in (but not getting back to the "A level").